Project UltraWELD will develop photonic based processes for highly dissimilar material joining in manufacturing of complex electro optics devices for defence/aerospace applications and OLED lighting. Ultrafast (i.e. pico- or femto-second pulsed) laser welding of glass to metals is proposed as an alternative to other bonding techniques that currently fail to provide a satisfactory solution on demanding requirements for device hermetic sealing and suffer from device degradation due to outgassing of volatile components in adhesives. We will develop new ultrafast laser processes for dissimilar material joining (microwelding) and also design and build a flexible custom laser prototype machine capable of applications development to demonstrate such laser microwelding in key selected real devices at TRL level 6. The project will directly benefit all five industry partners by enabling early adoption of this technology from end users, to enhance product competitiveness by increasing reliability and in-service lifetime and reduce cost of ownership.

A successful development and applications of quantum technologies demands specific laser sources that can combine high-performance, long-term reliability, trouble-free maintenance, size and cost requirements. Although available on the market, these features are often scattered across different products and companies forcing the users to compromise. Bringing together two world leading laser business and academic institutions, Coherent and University College London, this feasibility project will assess the performance of unique laser product essential for trapping cold atoms and other particles in highly demanding quantum technology applications. The results will open a path for further development of such laser which would deliver a combination of quantum applications driven features in a single market solution.

To develop a new compact low-cost design of mode-locked OPSL capable of producing 100 fs pulses, 1 W average power at 300 MHz repetition rate and prototype, demonstrate and benchmark in multi-photon imaging applications.

The UK has not yet realised the potential of the breakthroughs in Graphene. This high-risk feasibility project aims to pave the way for the UK’s first flagship graphene-enabled product, a high-value ultrafast laser system for a variety of applications. This brings together two world leading organisations, Coherent Scotland and Fraunhofer UK to deliver a graphene subsystem which will to give greater functionality and reduced cost, enabling broader use and uptake of a headline export success for the UK. This will underpin and extend high-value employment lead to social and health benefits. Whilst early results in graphene suggest it has potential in optical applications, we propose to use it to provide a world first and leading product breakthrough.

Multiphoton Microscopy is a key imaging technique in the biological sciences, enabling high resolution imaging at depths unobtainable via alternative imaging techniques. Currently, the lasers used as excitation sources are complex and therefore somewhat costly, therefore there is a requirement to identify alternate excitation sources. This project will investigate the applicability of innovative laser sources to Multiphoton Microscopy and explore ways of tailoring such sources to enable optimal imaging performance, bringing this unique imaging modality to a wider market.

Multiphoton Microscopy is a key imaging technique in the biological sciences, enabling high resolution imaging at depths unobtainable via alternative imaging techniques. Currently, the lasers used as excitation sources are complex and therefore somewhat costly, therefore there is a requirement to identify alternate excitation sources. This project will investigate the applicability of innovative laser sources to Multiphoton Microscopy and explore ways of tailoring such sources to enable optimal imaging performance, bringing this unique imaging modality to a wider market.

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